Ukrainian Sea Drones Cripple Another Russian Shadow-Fleet Vessel
Ukraine has disabled another tanker from Russia’s shadow oil fleet, striking it with sea drones in Ukraine’s Black Sea economic zone.
The Gaze reports this, referring to Reuters.
The attack targeted the Dashan, a tanker operating without a recognised flag and already subject to European Union and UK sanctions. The vessel was en route to the Russian port of Novorossiysk when several explosive-laden drones slammed into its stern, causing severe damage.
The strike marks the third Ukrainian attack in two weeks on ships linked to Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” – a web of largely unregulated vessels that Kyiv says enable Moscow to bypass Western sanctions and maintain lucrative oil exports that fund its war effort.
Maritime security sources confirmed the incident, noting that the tanker had been travelling at maximum speed with its transponders switched off before the explosions.
Video footage provided by officials shows multiple naval drones racing toward the tanker before detonating on impact. Reuters verified the vessel’s identity by analysing deck configurations, cranes, and other structural details visible in the footage.
“The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) continues active measures aimed at reducing the flow of petrodollars into the Russian budget,” the Ukrainian official said. “This is already the third shadow-fleet tanker disabled in just two weeks.”
Insurance premiums for vessels entering the Black Sea have surged amid the escalating risks, with underwriters reassessing policies almost daily as the conflict increasingly spills into maritime corridors.
For months, Ukraine has also targeted Russian oil refineries deep inside Russian territory using long-range aerial drones. But the strikes on tankers represent a parallel pressure tactic, aimed at undermining the logistics of Moscow’s global oil exports.
The Dashan, already sanctioned by the EU and UK, is believed to be one of several vessels operating with unclear ownership structures and intentionally obscured registry details.
As The Gaze previously reported, on November 29, Ukrainian naval drones severely damaged two sanctioned oil tankers belonging to Russia’s so-called shadow fleet in the Black Sea.
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